Throne of Ice and Blood (Flame and Thorns, #2)

by Marion Blackwood

For all the people pleasers out there whose sense of self-worth is deeply connected to other people’s opinions. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You are enough.

handcuffs.”

He loves handcuffs lol

This world is cruel and unfair. And if you’re too kind and too trusting and too empathetic, people will only take advantage of you.” His words hit me like a knife to the gut. Because deep down, deep in the hidden corners of my soul that I try to hide from everyone, I know that he is right. All my life, I have done everything I can to please the people around me. And all anyone has ever done is to use me because of it. I have drained myself, sacrificed everything that I wanted, to make everyone else happy and to help them achieve their goals. But it didn’t make the world better. It just made me miserable.

“You’re right,” he says, tilting his head back so that he meets my gaze. “I kneel for nothing and no one.” His golden eyes burn like flames, searing right through my soul. “But for you… For you, I would kneel.”

“Don’t ever apologize for crying. It’s not a weakness. It’s a sign that you’ve had to be strong for too long.”

“It doesn’t matter what you do, some people will always hate you. You could do everything they ask, give them everything you have, and it would still never be enough. They will still hate you. Either because of their own insecurities. Or because they have been taught to hate you.” Bitterness laces her tone as she adds, “Just like we have been taught to hate ourselves.”

It’s impossible to be liked by everyone. There are always people who will hate you for one reason or another. Be it what your magic type is or what you look like or who your family is or what your job is or even something as ridiculous as what kind of food you prefer. Regardless of the reason, there will always be people out there who want to make others feel like shit just so that they can feel better about themselves.

“I’ve been falling for you for years, from afar, but then I truly got to know you during the Atonement Trials.” A wistful smile blows across his handsome face. “And then that day when you patted my cheek and said good talk, I fell in love with you utterly and completely.”